Candidate hepatitis C vaccine trials and people who inject drugs: challenges and opportunities.

Abstract

People who inject drugs (PWID) are at high risk of HCV. Limited evidence of the effectiveness of prevention interventions and low uptake of treatment in this group highlight the need for increased investment in biomedical interventions, notably safe and efficacious vaccines. While several candidates are currently in development, field trials in PWID present challenges, including ethical issues associated with trial literacy, informed consent and standards of care. Significant biological and social factors and differences between HIV and HCV suggest that HCV warrants targeted vaccine preparedness research to lay the groundwork for successful implementation of future trials.

• Authors: Lisa Maher, Bethany White, Margaret Hellard, Annie Madden, Maria Prins, Thomas Kerr, Kimberly Page
• Journal: Vaccine (Vaccine) Vol. 28 Issue 45 Pg. 7273-8 (Oct 21 2010) ISSN: 1873-2518 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 20831914 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Viral Hepatitis Vaccines

Topics

• Clinical Trials as Topic (ethics)
• Drug Users
• Hepatitis C (prevention & control)
• Humans
• Informed Consent (ethics)
• Standard of Care
• Viral Hepatitis Vaccines (administration & dosage)